Edited by: Mike Powell
Reviewed by: Abby TexasLast Update:
The Rundown
Best Overall for Poodles: Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
“With a retractable bristle design, this slicker brush can effectively gather and remove loose hair making it perfect for de-matting. It’s designed for grooming dogs with any coat type or length.”
Best Environment-friendly Brush: Burt's Bees Pin and Hemp Bristle Dog Brush
“This brush brings a 2-in-1 experience and takes care of your pooch’s tangled and matted coat with ease. It’s made from sustainable materials so it’s safe not just for your poodle but for the environment as well.”
Best Dual-Action Brush: Hartz Groomer's Best Combo Dog Brush
“Make your grooming time more efficient with this dual-action brush that features two specialized sides. It removes knots and mats while gently massaging your dog’s skin for a clean, healthier coat.”
Purebred poodles have lovely, curly fur that hardly sheds! They have a single layer coat, which makes life easier when it comes to cleaning and grooming. But even if they don’t need as much grooming as other dog breeds, you still need the best brush for poodles for when they need the occasional de-matting.
Table of Contents
Best Brush for Poodles in 2021
Here are our top picks for the best brushes for poodles:
- Best Overall for Poodles: Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
- Best Environment-friendly Brush: Burt’s Bees Pin and Hemp Bristle Dog Brush
- Best Dual-Action Brush: Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush
- Best De-matting Brush: Pet Neat 2-Sided Pet Grooming Tool
- Best Value for Money: Lilpep Dog Rubber Bath Brush
- Premium Option: Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush
1. Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
Best Overall for Poodles: Ideal for removing tangles and mats for coats of any length and type
PROS
- Durable grooming brush that’s easy to clean
- Comfort grip and anti-slip handle to prevent wrist strain when brushing
- Short, bent wire bristles that works effectively to clean even undercoat
- “Hidden bristle” design to keep it clean and safe
CONS
- No safety tips on the bristles
The Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush is a top-rated, self-cleaning slicker brush. It uses wire bristles that are strong enough to work through deep tangles, while keeping your poodle’s coat shiny and their skin healthy.
The retractable bristle design means that your brush stays cleaner in between uses. Simply push the button to expose the bristles, and push it once again when you’re done to retract them, leaving all the dead hair behind.
2. Burt’s Bees Pin and Hemp Bristle Dog Brush
Best Environment-Friendly Brush: Keep your pooch properly groomed using a brush made out of durable and sustainable materials
PROS
- Environment-friendly wooden handle that’s comfortable to use
- Available in two sizes to choose between adult and puppy poodles
- 2-in-1 multi-function brush for more effective grooming
- Rounded pins on brush head that gently massages your dog’s skin while brushing
CONS
- Slightly more pricey than others
This pin and bristle brush is a practical choice for dog parents who need extra help grooming their pooch with stubborn mats and knots. The pin side gets rid of surface knots easily while the bristles keep his surface coat smooth and shiny. The soft hemp bristles work gently on your dog’s skin so it cleans his coat without hurting him.
Another notable quality of this brush is its wooden, environment-friendly design. This should help you take care of your pooch and groom them properly without feeling the guilt of hurting the environment.
3. Hartz Groomer’s Best Combo Dog Brush
Best Dual Action Brush: Removes tangles while gently distributing natural oils in your dog’s skin keeping it clean and healthy
PROS
- Multi-function pin and bristle brush
- Nylon bristles gently redistributes natural oils on your dog’s skin
- Steel pins with brush head are safe and gentle on the skin
- Thicker, comfier handle for easy grip
CONS
- Can be hard to clean
The Hartz Groomer's Best Combo Dog Brush is a double-sided grooming tool featuring bristles on one side and pins on the other. It easily removes hair tangles and loose hair while gently massaging your dog’s skin.
It allows better circulation and even distribution of the natural oils on your dog’s skin, keeping it properly moisturized and healthy.
4. Pet Neat 2-Sided Pet Grooming Tool
Best De-matting Brush: Takes care of the toughest tangles, mats, and knots
PROS
- 2-in-1 dual head for versatility
- No-scratch round stainless steel teeth for extra safety
- Non-slip, ergonomic handle for comfortable grip
- Effectively gathers and removes loose hair
CONS
- May be too big for a miniature Poodle
If your Poodle’s curly coat sheds more than average or tends to get matted easily, the Pet Neat 2-Sided Pet Grooming Tool could make your life easier. It’s user-friendly and safe to use. Even if your Poodle doesn’t shed a lot, it’s worth having as a de-matting tool, to remove stubborn knots.
One side has 22 large, rounded, stainless steel teeth that are ideal for working through tangles. The other is a finer, 87-tooth comb, perfect for thinning and removing dead hair.
Not only are both blades rounded to prevent scratching your dog, but the handle is ergonomic and non-slip, providing safety from both sides.
5. Lilpep Dog Rubber Bath Brush
Best Value for Money: Multi-function, affordable brush that makes bath time fun and relaxing
PROS
- Cheap and durable rubber brush for bathing
- Adjustable ring handle to use for dogs of all sizes
- Made of high-quality TPR rubber that gently massages your dog’s skin
- Disperses foam easily and soothes your dog as you brush his coat
CONS
- May not get to deep tangles
If you’re looking for a high-quality brush for Poodles that’s perfectly within your budget, the Lilpep Dog Rubber Bath Brush would do the trick. It’s soft, easy on your Poodle’s skin, and effectively removes tangles and knots.
The on-hand design also makes Poodle grooming more like bonding and less like a chore! It’s just like stroking your dog, so you can reach places more easily even with difficult contours. Your dog may feel a little more comfortable with this if they’re sensitive or fearful of new things like brushes.
6. Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush
Premium Option: The best slicker brush that lets you remove tangles and groom your pooch like a pro
PROS
- Removes tangles and fluffs coats easily
- Works through the coat to the root
- Specially bent pins to reach deeper, tangled mats
- Extra long ergonomic handle for comfortable grip
CONS
- Too big for small Poodles
The Big G Slicker Brush features bent pins that would deal well with the curly coat of a standard Poodle. They reach deeply into their coat and aim to remove mats from the root.
The pins aren’t coated, so you’ll need to take extra care when using this dog brush that you don’t scratch your Poodle.
If you do have a big standard Poodle then you need the best slicker brush with a larger surface area like this one.
Different Types of Brushes for Poodles
Slicker Brush
Slicker brushes are one of the best brush to use for grooming dogs like poodles. If you’ve ever seen a brush with very fine wires packed closely together, that’s a slicker brush!
These types of brushes are great for just about all dogs. They’re often used for dogs with double coats, as the wires penetrate deep into the hair and untangle knots, remove loose hair, and smooth out matted fur.
For dogs like Poodles who have just a single coat, the magic of a slicker brush is not lost. They’re still super for getting rid of mats and tangles, and the fact that they wires are small and close together means that pressure is evenly distributed, making the experience a comfortable one for your dog.
If your dog is very matted, be gentle with the slicker brush. It can pull at tangled fur and in turn pull on the skin, causing pain and discomfort. Just be gentle and slow, and it should be all good.
Bristle Brush
Bristle brushes have short, densely-packed, bristly hairs. They’re designed for dogs with short coats, so using one of these on your Poodle would probably work quite well.
They’re made in such a way that vigorous brushing with one of these brushes stimulates blood flow and helps nourish the skin and fur better, while removing dead hair and skin from the surface.
Bristle brushes aren’t great for getting rid of deep mats and tangles. They’re amazing for smoothing the coat and giving your dog something like a massage, but if your Poodle is very matted they’ll need another brush to do the deep diving before the bristle brush finishes off.
Choose from softer or firmer bristles. If your Poodle has soft, smooth hair, they’ll benefit from a soft-bristled brush. Poodles with coarse fur may need firmer bristles to get through it nicely.
Comb
Just like a human comb, these types of brushes are fantastic for removing small, fiddly knots in your Poodle’s coat. They’re often used after a full grooming, just to get rid of any remaining tangles.
You won’t use a comb to work through large knots. It’s too fiddly, and can end up hurting your dog or breaking the comb! Nobody wants comb teeth stuck in their Poodle’s fur.
They’re good tools for show Poodles. You can run a comb through their coat after grooming just to iron out any small wrinkles and give the coat that fluffy effect.
Pin Brush
These brushes look just like a human hair brush, with metal bristles that often have a plastic “safety cap” on the ends.
They’re good for really smoothing out a coat, and are slightly more effective than a bristle brush due to their firmer wires.
Shedding/De-matting Brush
Poodles don’t shed much, so it’s not necessary to get them a special deshedding brush. This type of brush is designed for dogs with double coats.
If your Poodle does shed more than average, though, you may consider getting one of these. They’re specifically made to remove loose, dead hair.
6 Tips for Brushing Your Poodle
1) Do It Often!
Whether your dog is a standard Poodle or a toy Poodle, their coat needs regular maintenance. Poodles don’t have an undercoat, but they can become very matted due to those curls!
Loose hair, dirt, and debris can easily become tangled in their curls, creating nasty mats and tangles.
It can be easy to not see the tangles beneath those pretty curls. Brushing often gets rid of tangles before they get really stuck in and become a problem and a pain to remove.
2) Make Sure You Can Reach Everywhere
Don’t try to brush your Poodle while he’s sitting in his bed. You need to be able to reach everywhere, so it’s best to have him or her standing up, on a table or high surface if possible.
Somewhere that’s at the right height for you to stand and brush is perfect. If you can find a spot that’s easy for you to circle so you can come at your Poodle from every side, that would be even better.
3) Do It When Your Poodle’s Coat Is Dry
It might be tempting to comb your Poodle when their coat is wet, but this can actually cause even worse knots.
If it’s brushing time and your Poodle has got him or herself wet, either wait until they’re dry, or quickly dry them yourself.
You’ll need to ensure they’re properly and completely dry, though! A hair dryer is your best option, if your dog can handle it.
If not, it’s best to skip the brush for the day and wait until they’re dry again.
4) Use Different Brushes
Combs are great for feeling out where tangles are. Once you’ve found them, the best slicker brush is very effective at getting them out.
Once your Poodle’s coat is knot-free, you can use a pin or bristle brush to give it a final once-over, making them look sleek and smooth.
You can get away with using just a pin or slicker brush, but the job will be harder, take longer, and your Poodle won’t look as pretty at the end!
5) Don’t Rush
Make sure you dedicate at least 15 minutes every day (or every other day, once a week at the least) to brushing your dog.
That’s enough time to do it thoroughly and properly. If you do half a job, you may as well not do it at all! You need to take the time to brush out tangles and mats, especially in places that could become a problem, like under the legs and behind the ears.
6) End Off With A Vigorous Brush
Once you’ve got rid of the tangles and mats, it’s a good idea to end off the grooming session with a vigorous brush. A pin or bristle brush is the best one for this, as you can really put some elbow into it!
Be sure not to hurt your Poodle, though. You just want to stimulate blood flow, give their curly coat a shine, and make them look sleek and healthy.
Questions & Answers
How Often Should You Brush Your Poodle?
If you can give your Poodle a brush every day, that’s great. If not, at least once a week is the minimum you should brush them to keep that fur unmatted and healthy.
If you brush your dog once per week and you’re having trouble removing mats, it’s a sure sign you need to be brushing them more often.
Up it to twice per week and take note of it the mats improve.
Should I Brush My Poodle Wet or Dry?
Dry, dry, dry! Brushing your Poodle when they’re wet can actually make tangles worse. Loose hair can get stuck to hair that’s attached, and cause some chaos.
It’s always best to groom your Poodle when they’re completely dry. If brushing time comes and your Poodle happens to be wet, or even just a little damp, rather skip the brush until they’re totally dry.
Which Brush Should I Use?
You should have a variety of dog brushes in your collection. A comb is a great tool for finding the mats in your Poodle’s curly coat.
A slicker brush is a must for brushing those tangles out. Pin brushes may work well on less tight curls. You can use pin brushes for surface brushing, or a bristle brush, depending on your preference.
If your Poodle struggles with bad matting, a dematting tool could be a helpful addition.
